McCormack’s Big Whiskey Grill & Smokehouse

I was mesmerized by their huge selection of whiskey. The owner, Matt, has taken a great connected and owned it. They have a great selection of whiskey and do a great job on making manhattans. Some places make it a little to pungent, but theirs has a nice balance. Their whiskey soaked cherries are definitely something to try.
If you are looking for a great drink from experienced bartender, this is the place to go. He has a wealth of knowledge and I am looking forward heading back to hopefully try his whiskey when he opens his distillery.

Came to Richmond to celebrate my friend’s bachelor party. The staff and food were great, and the whiskey list was truly staggering — packed with fantastic bourbons, ryes, Irish whiskeys, and scotches. As if some of the best BBQ and greens weren’t enough to solidify a grand experience, Mac, the owner spent time with us discussing whiskeys and making personalized recommendations.
I discovered the delicious Octomore (I love peat, and he could not understate just how much I was going to like it) thanks to him, and several other members of my party discovered new, incredible whiskeys thanks to his extensive knowledge and interest in helping us have a great experience.
Thanks to Mac and McCormick’s for making our experience great!

We decided to try this place after shopping. The atmosphere was nice and the staff is friendly. They have a considerable amount of GF options. My husband had the BBQ spaghetti and said that the ribs were over cooked, too spicy, and dry. My oldest son had the BBQ home style platter and had the same complaint about the ribs. His brisket was «okay» but there were too many fatty pieces and some very dry pieces as well. I had the duck. The duck itself was really good, but the grits were lacking and the greens had way too much vinegar. The Masa tots, cornbread, and Mac and cheese were really good and they have a huge selection of whiskey, rum, vodka, etc. All in all, it’s overpriced and we most likely will not return.

Where should I start? Excellent décor, impeccable waitstaff, list upon list of drink choices (from wine to bourbon to beer) and amazing food — what more could you ask for?
Met my bestie here for dinner — I’ve been once before, and he had not. Started with the pork belly app — in a word, superb! So tasty! Washed it down with Shotgun Betty White, and finally decided on the Whiskey burger. Again, you can’t lose with this choice. The sweet potato fries were also delicious. My friend had the ribeye and was also very pleased with his meal.
We ended the night with dessert — mine was the bread pudding homemade with Sugar Shack donuts. Yep, you read that right, and it didn’t disappoint. My friend has a bourbon cake (?) and loved it.
I was so full that the button on my pants almost popped off! :) But the highlight of the night was our waiter, Cullen (hopefully I’m spelling this right). Great bloke, extremely friendly and attentive. You couldn’t ask for better service. Then we got to meet Mac the owner. Also very friendly. He informed us of special nights with ‘whiskey school’, where you sit at the bar, get schooled on, and get to try different drinks. Further, it includes a sandwich.
They also have cigar nights, and banquet rooms should you need a cool place for a special event. My friend will be bringing his Fantasy Football buddies here for the draft. And I will definitely be going back. NEW FAVORITE PLACE!!!

My wife and stopped in after shopping to try it for the first time. Restaurant was Empty on Sat @ 630pm. Bar was nice bartender was awesome make us a couple drinks. 4 people at the bar. I thought this place would have been booming based on reviews…

There was nothing really out of this world about this place. I got the house BBQ platter with greens, mac and cheese and corn bread. The BBQ selection was just okay. The greens and mac and cheese were pretty standard. However, I will say that they have a great selection of whiskies. If you’re in the area and want a stiff drink after work this would be the place.

I was a little worried arriving at a mall, but was amazed at the selection of fine bourbons, and the incredible knowledge of the owner. Mac is the Yoda of bourbon! The more I sat there at the bar the more I realized how amazing this place was. Avoid all the challenges of parking downtown and check this place out. It’s an instant favorite for me, I will definitely visit each time business brings me to Richmond.

I’ve stopped in once before with my husband for a drink and he wanted to come back today because our buddy keeps recommending it. I wasn’t really hungry but my husband ordered the shrimp and scallops appetizer. I am very picky when it comes to some seafood and I have never liked scallops. The shrimp was cooked and seasoned perfectly!
I didn’t want to share with my husband at all but since he was the one who ordered it I kind of had to. ;)
Tried the scallops as well and although I am still not a big fan my husband said they were really good. We will be coming back this weekend with an empty stomach!

I would do zero stars if possible. Sat at the bar. Was desperately hopped up for the Nashville chicken Biscuit. Since its in the menu and all I assumed that’s how it was served. No!!! They haven’t served it on a biscuit for a while. Then for the love of God take it off the menu.
Oh…one would also surmise that if you served nachos (with salsa) then you could just get the chips with the salsa. Not here!!! If it’s not on the menu good luck. This is the 5^th time I have been there… I want to support local businesses. This is the last time I step foot in there, unless someone else is paying.
They need to focus on customer service.

What an experience. My first of many to come. Everyone was great. Slow night with the in coming winter weather. Bad with names but every person involved was great. I’m a limited bourbon drinker but asked them to select for me and they did great. Owner stopped by and wow what an education. He did the interior work on the restaurant which was an education then we talked bourbon. I could have listened all night. He’s great. Will be back for more education soon. Stop in if you haven’t. These folks are great. Be patience with all the mall changes and give them a chance. You’ll be glad you did. Great job to everyone we’ll see ya soon.

Time: Went for a late lunch. Arrived at aprox 1pm on a Monday. We sat at the bar. We were the only ones at the bar area. Only 2 other tables had people in them in the restaurant. All being taken care of by the bartender.
Drink: Ordered a Moscow Mule. Was made promptly and in a copper cup. 1 oz of Pinnacle Vodka and Goslings ginger beer was used. Was a bit heavy on the ice and a was really a splash of Goslings.
Food: Ordered an appetizer. Fried oysters for $ 14.99. They were very good. Fried perfectly. The sauce was good as well. It was served with a small scoop of coleslaw. Not sure it was worth $ 2ish an oyster though.
Seemed like a good place just not sure it is worth the pricing structure they have.

I don’t even know where to start. I should’ve known something was wrong with a resturant less than half full on a Friday night. Even with just a few tables took over an hour to get our food. The waiter claimed he didn’t believe in trays so with a large group it literally took 5 trips to get drinks or food. Were out of most of the liqour on the menu. Then when the food did come, it was either cold or subpar. Macaroni and cheese tasted like it was out of a can. Maybe it was just a bad night but literally the worst resturant experience I’ve had in Richmond. I guess I shouldn’t have had my hopes up considering it was in regency mall.

This place should be WAY more crowded as fantastic as it is.
DH and I have been here several times. The atmosphere, food and service never disappoint. But we cannot understand why there are not more people here. Are folks not in-​the-​know driving by thinking it is a Red Robin mall-​type restaurant (it most definitely is not!)? Maybe it is the huge cavernous feel to the place that makes it feel nearly empty when you arrive?
On this visit, DH and I started off with some lovely drinks. He had a rye (neat) recommended by the barkeep. I had their special Manhattan (a la Betty Draper). Both were outstanding and we enjoyed hearing the story behind the making of both the rye and bourbon.
To eat, DH and I enjoyed the Pork Belly appetizer, which was cooked to perfection. What made it incredible was the slaw that come with it. It was a Granny Smith apple (tiny diced) with a splash of mild vinegar. The combination of the pork belly and crunch of the apple slaw was out of this world.
For dinner, DH opted for the oyster Po’ Boy (he loves his oysters as you might note if you read other reviews I have posted). His sandwich, served on a huge baguette, came with a side of sweet potato fries (cooked just right) and cole slaw. DH commented even as a mayo-​based slaw, it was still delicious.
For my dinner, I went for the duck, which is one of my very favorite things in the fall. It came sliced and with sides of grits and sauteed mushrooms. Every bite had wonderful flavors and made for a satisfying meal.
Ryan, our server, was attentive and helpful, providing excellent service for an excellent meal.
The only thing that might make MBWGS a bit better might be to visually divide the main dining room into two spaces and fill up the front first before seating diners the back. It would feel more intimate than cavernous. But otherwise, this place is AWESOME with the bonus of being close to my house with loads of easy parking.

This place is gorgeous, friendly and delicious. The kitchen is creative without getting too weird and the owner has worked so hard to make the place warm and interesting. He loves whiskey and will be happy to chat with you about it, maybe even pour you a taste of one of his favorites.
We like the place so much we booked a small event for our non-​profit. At the end of the night, Mac, the owner told us our snacks were gratis. Now isn’t that a business that you can feel good patronizing? There is something for everyone here from Mac n Cheese to burgers to gumbo to veggie options.
Enjoy!

After reading the reviews I made the trip across town to try this restaurant and had an excellent lunch in a clean, welcoming, and more than interesting atmosphere, in an older, but still safe and welcoming area nonetheless.
When time allows I will return for dinner where I will expound more on the cuisine and service, and if I have a bad experience, lousy cuisine, or rude service I will post it. But I wanted to comment here about, in my view, the unfair review given by Brian K who gives this fine restaurant a 1 star due to its location mostly, alluding that its located in a bad area; well, it’s not Short Pump, but it’s certainly not Gilpen Court either.
If neighborhood location was the criteria in rating excellent restaurants then every restaurant in Shockoe Bottom or Churchill area, where expensive homes are intermingled with lesser expensive working-​class homes, would be rated 1 star.
Brian includes of link to a WTVR report stating that a meth lab was found in a nearby hotel. But does not include in his review that the same report states this type of activity happens in all areas, but rarely ever in this area.
Here’s a quote from the article from one of the police officers investigating the case —
«I was a little shocked, given that we are in the West End, near West End, but still,» said Chris Quigley. «But it goes on everywhere, sadly.»
In my opinion you should definitely make the trek across town to try this establishment. I guarantee you’ll be back, as I am excited to do for dinner where I will be giving a more extensive review of the food and drink and wall of impressive rare and not-​so-​rare whiskey.
And take with a grain of salt a negative review by someone complaining that the area is seedy, but does not think it’s seedy attempting to enter a finer dining establishment with a dress code wearing a hat that he could easily have removed.

This place was… fine. DH and I came here for dinner since we had just purchased a new stove at Sears and it was time to eat. When you walk in, the bar is to your left and WOAH impressive. The spirits list is several pages deep and they also have a separate beer and separate wine list. Pretty sure we could combine some of these so you don’t have 4 different menus at the table.
The actual dinning area is huge. When we showed up there were only two other tables and it felt partially abandoned. I am sure that it is a lot more lively with more tables, but it was seriously like eating in the library.
Our waiter was … OK. When DH asked if any of the beers on the beer list were on tap he replied «We are NOT a drafthouse». OK then. Got it. All of the beers are canned and are offered as ABC off. Not a bad idea, but the pricing was a little dear.
We hadn’t quite finished looking at all the different drink menus when he came back to take our order but he wanted to get it in before the 6 top. OK then. A 6 top in an almost empty restaurant is going to really back up your kitchen? Anyhow. We started with fried oysters that had been fried HARD. They were fine but I had just had them at Poe’s the other night and in comparison they did not fare well. The coleslaw however was ON POINT. I enjoyed my multi-​meat meatloaf and DH liked his pork chop. But nothing in the food and experience is going to cause me to drive across town to eat here.

Hard to believe I came to a whiskey bar for happy hour and now I’m writing a five star review for their food. But I am.
A couple of buddies and I came for happy hour to try for our first time today. The restaurant was big and attached to Regency Mall which was interesting. Not a place I frequent, but hey, PLENTY of parking. Anyway, we sat at the bar and starting talking with Mack. He was probably to most knowledgeable bar tender I’ve met. Come to find out he’s also the owner. Guy knew everything about every bottle they own. We sampled some great sipping whiskeys and got the full story behind every one. Then we got some apps. Fried oysters and brisket nachos to start. The oysters were awesome so we ordered a steak to split with sautéed mushrooms and French fries on the side. Wow. Great flavor. Perfectly cooked. Even the sides were awesome. And being that it’s so hard to find a great steak in Richmond without paying an arm and a leg (sometimes it’s hard even when you do) this was a welcome treat.
Now I’m just curious if the fan location can offer the same quality and experience. I’ll certainly try!

You can’t miss here. The food is IN.CRED.I.BLE. The knowledge behind the bar is prodigious. If you’re tired of the chain bushwa that comprises most dining options in the suburbs of Richmond, here’s a great example of what «local» can serve up in the wilds of Henrico.
I’ve been here a number of times now, and each visit has served up something new and wonderful, both on the food and drink side of the experience. Mac, the McCormack in the name, has introduced me to Jameson Black Barrel Irish whiskey, for which he earned my undying gratitude. Paul, another behind-​the-​stick stalwart, has turned me on to several terrific beers.
And the kitchen. OMFG, the kitchen. A few months back, they served me up a parsnip soup with Meyer lemon oil and fried sage leaves made my taste buds do a mazurka, they were so happy. Fried chicken livers sound so pedestrian … until you have THESE chicken livers, topped with a glorious apple-​vinegar slaw. The menu changes frequently enough that even an habitué will find something new to try.
The place is also reasonably kid-​friendly, with some options for parents who’d like to have a great dining experience without having to add the cost of a babysitter. If you hit Mac’s between 5 and 7pm, you’ll have all the fun you can stand, menu-​wise, without having to listen to your kids whine about «nothing I like.» You’re covered.
Ignore the fact that it’s in a suburban mall that’s seen better days. You don’t even have to go into the mall to enjoy Mac’s Big Whiskey’s delights. Bring some friends, an appetite, and some curiosity about whiskey, and you’ll have a world-​class experience right here in the #RVA.

Wish I Would’ve Known About This Place Sooner!
Have you ever heard a new song and and thought to yourself «I can tell that this is going to be a MASSIVE hit one day»? Well, that is exactly how I feel in regards to this establishment.
Although it’s in a well-​populated area, it’s still a hidden treasure of sorts due to it being a «mall restaurant» & it not being that crowded for supper hours. Let’s be honest — no one really expects much out of a mall restaurant. However, this place isn’t just above par for a mall restaurant in general, but any Richmond restaurant, period.
There is an incredible ambiance to it– very classic meets modern, with a lot of wood paneling. I did not partake in their bar (my drinks were served at the table), but the selection of alcohol was out of this world.
I was very impressed with their beer list, especially considering that they don’t even specialize in the stuff.
The service was fabulous, too. We had a dark blonde male waiter, and he was very friendly. And the red head female hostess working was extremely nice! I felt like she went above and beyond to make sure that everything was right for our evening.
However, our favorite part was the food. I got the bison meatloaf, and it was delicious! The sauce had somewhat of a cinnamon/​nutmeg flavoring to it that paired perfectly with the meat, and I was also impressed by my side dish of Mac and cheese. And all of you vegetarians and vegans don’t have to worry about being stuck with a bland salad at this joint, as I saw several tofu and lentil based dishes on the menu.
But the real star of the show was my dessert. FRIED SAMOA GIRL SCOUT COOKIES! It was served with ice cream.
I am still full from all of the indulgences, and I cannot wait to go back. Mark my words when I say that this restaurant will be one of Richmond’s shining stars of 2015.

The service is amazing which isn’t surprising given who the owner is :). The spaghetti squash appetizer was decadent; the Nashville Chicken Sandwich delectable and the fried Oreos… divine! If you’ve never been you need to check it out!